OVERVIEW
Through-zero and back again. Many decades
ago, it is rumored that a certain, infamous
“Spectre” created the effect we’ve all come
to know as flange by putting a finger on
a set of identical tape recorders, slightly
altering the speed of one of the recorders.
Through-zero flanging is an incredibly rare
and inspiring effect, especially in the analog
domain. By using two delay lines (as opposed
to just one), Spectre can cross over the elusive
“zero point.” This through-zero flanger pedal
features an all-analog signal path that can be
dialed in to create any amount of subtle and
wacky flange tones. Spectre also boasts an
impressive array of chorus and vibrato tones.
Further, every knob and switch is connected
to a little digital brain while your guitar signal
stays 100% analog the entire time and never
gets digitally processed. Since the control of
the effect is digital, it opens up unprecedented
effects and features that have never been heard
or offered in analog stompboxes.
MIX (RAMP)
Simply put, this is a magical knob. When
you don’t have any dip switches assigned
for ramping, this knob functions as wet/dry
mix knob for the flanging effect. Completely
clockwise is full-flange, and completely counterclockwise is “clean” but has a tube-like preamp
character to the tone. Due to the digital control
of this pedal, you can set this knob to control
any of the five parameters individually or
simultaneously (zero, regen, rate, width, shift)
and have it either modulate or ramp-and-hold
(rise or fall) via dip switches in the back of the
pedal. Essentially, this knob controls the ramp
time in which this takes place.
ZERO
Sets the manual delay time on the flange effect.
The “zero point” is somewhere between 1
o’clock and 3 o’clock on your pedal. You can
find it by setting the “width” control completely
counterclockwise and then sweeping the
zero knob between 1 o’clock and 3 o’clock in
negative polarity mode. You know you are
there when the signal disappears almost
entirely. Completely clockwise gets your
modulation past the zero point, so you can
pass through zero when you turn the width
knob up. Completely counter-clockwise
increases the delay time between the two
delay lines (no through zero effect), for more
traditional flange tones.
REGEN
Completely clockwise increases the intensity
of the flange effect, even to the point of selfoscillation & whale-like noises. Completely
counterclockwise creates more subtle,
chorus tones.
width, shift, and wave shape toggles comprise
the ModuShape™ engine, which give
unprecedented control over the shape of
your modulation.
BYPASS STOMP
Activates or bypasses the effect. This can be
changed to a momentary bypass via a dip
switch in the back of the pedal if it is desired.
This pedal is “True Bypass” via a relay, and is
extremely quiet.
TAP STOMP
Sets tap tempo, always honors the last two
stomps. If you hold this switch for 1 second
(while ramping) it will reset the ramp.
RPM
LOWER TOGGLE
This controls the rate of the flange effect.
This control can be over-ridden by the tap
tempo switch.
This switch recalls presets. The right position
recalls one preset, the left position recalls
a different preset. The middle position will
always reflect wherever the knob positions,
toggle positions, and dip switch positions are
currently at. In order to save to the right preset
slot, you hold down the right stomp (bypass)
for 3 seconds and then hold down both stomp
switches simultaneously for another 3 seconds.
1/2/4 (3/6/8) TOGGLE
This controls the tap division for tap tempo.
A dip switch in the back of the pedal lets
you access the “3 – 6 – 8” divisions if you so
desire. You can also select tap divisions for the
RPM or for ramping parameters dependent on
where the “tap control” dip switch is set. Note
that divisions are 2x slower for ramping.
WIDTH
This controls how wide the flange can go.
Crank it clockwise for crazy, deep flange tones.
SHIFT
This controls the center point of the
modulation. Crank it counterclockwise and
the wave will ramp up quickly and ramp down
gradually. Crank it clockwise and the wave will
ramp up gradually and ramp down quickly. If
this knob is straight up and down at 12:00 it
will give a perfectly symmetric wave.
LEFT WAVE SHAPE TOGGLE
This controls the shape of the first half of the
wave modulation. Left for sine, middle for
triangle, and right for square.
RIGHT WAVE SHAPE TOGGLE
This controls the shape of the second half
of the wave modulation. Left for square,
middle for triangle, and right for sine. The
or output with a regular ¼” instrument cable. In
addition, it can be used to interface the pedal
with an Empress Effects Midibox. Much more
information on this in the MIDI section of this
manual (at the end).
POWER & OTHER INFO
EXPRESSION / CV CONTROL
& DIP SWITCHES
The Zero, Regen, Rate, Width, and Shift dip
switches in the left bank allow you to control
parameters via ramping or an Expression Pedal
/ CV. Whenever you plug a ¼” in to the EXP /
CV jack, the pedal automatically knows that you
will be controlling parameters via expression or
CV, not ramping.
DIRECT CONTROL OF WAVEFORM
WITH EXPRESSION / CV
If you have something plugged in to the EXP
/ CV jack, but do not have any parameters
selected via dip switch, you are allowed to
control the flange delay manually. The range
of this effect can be limited by the position of
the Width knob. For a maximum sweep, set
the width knob to its full clockwise position.
IN/OUT
The range of the expression / CV is controlled
by the parameter knob position and the
“sweep” dip switch. For example, if you
wanted an expression pedal to control the
regen parameter from no regeneration to
the edge of self-oscillation, you would make
sure the “sweep” dip switch is in the bottom
position and set the regen knob at the setting
just before the pedal starts to generate sounds
on its own. If you need more regeneration you
simply turn the regen knob up slightly. This will
increase the maximum range of the expression
pedal. This allows you to control multiple
parameters with an expression pedal, but you
can fine tune the range that you want for
each parameter.
EXP / CV
¼” TRS jack for expression pedal (parameter
selectable via dip switch in the back of the
pedal. Tip goes to wiper, and we recommend
Mission expression pedals (EP-1 or EP-25k).
Can also be used to for 0-5V Control Voltage
(CV) on tip – the ring should be left floating in
this case. There are many expression pedals
that work with Chase Bliss Audio products,
the Mission stuff just happens to be what we
have here.
TAP / MIDI
¼” TRS jack. This can be used as a tap input
When you save a preset, all of this information
gets saved. The parameters in blue below
correspond to the ramp function *or* an
expression pedal (if one is plugged in).
This pedal consumes ~50mA and should be
operated with a standard 2.1mm 9V DC center
negative adapter. We recommend Voodoo Labs
Pedal Power. Input impedance of this device is
1M, and output impedance is less
than 1k.
The LED blinks and your setting is saved. For
the left slot, you do the same thing but hold
the left stomp (tap) first. If you recall a preset,
and move a knob, you will notice that the LED
above the toggle goes dim. This is to signify
that something has changed on the preset. If
you want to save this change in the preset, you
will have to save it again.
¼” mono jacks.
U N D ER S T A N DI NG
T H E D I P S W I T C HE S
SETTING EXPRESSION /
CV RANGE
A very important thing to remember is
that ramping always gets reset when
bypassing. The parameters’ current
knob position control where the
parameters ultimately will either start
or stop ramping.
The Zero, Regen, Rate, Width, and
Shift dip switches on the left side simply
turn that parameter on or off for ramping
or expression / CV capability.
Zero, Regen, Rate, Width, and Shift
dip switches on the right side control
whether or not the parameters will rise
(go clockwise in ramp mode) or fall (go
counterclockwise in ramp mode). It also
controls how the parameters will behave
with an expression pedal plugged in.
Bounce: When on (and no expression
pedal), parameters will go back and forth
(i.e. modulate), if it’s off, parameters will
ramp and hold.
Polarity: This is a very powerful switch
(and probably the most important
dip switch on this pedal) - it changes
between positive and negative flanging.
Negative position is when the dip switch
is towards the knobs (default position as
shown in the picture). Positive position
is the other side. Positive flanging
has a more “musical” sweep, and has
a deep tone with plenty of low end.
Negative flanging is seen as having a
more “hollow” and intense sound. This
is the sound that can cancel out when
it reaches the zero point – both modes
sounds incredible on its journey
to and through zero!
MoToByp: Momentary-to-bypass. If on,
the pedal is only activated when the
bypass stomp is pressed in.
Tap Control: “R” stands for ramp, “P”
for parameter (RPM in this case). In the P
position, tapping in a tempo will dictate
the RPM rate. In the R position, tapping
in the tempo will dictate the Ramp rate.
This is great for modulating parameters.
Remember, the “Bounce” dip switch
needs to be on if you want to ramp
parameters back and forth, rather than
just ramping and holding.
Tap Division: In position “3” allows for 3,
6, 8 tap divisions. This is also important
for selecting MIDI note divisions.
Sweep: this controls where ramp
sweeps. In “T” (top) the ramping (or
expression control) will occur between
the current knob position and the max
position (fully clockwise). In “B” (bottom)
the ramping (or expression control) will
occur between the current knob
position and the minimum position
(fully counterclockwise).
NOTE: It may seem overwhelming and difficult for
users to take all this in at first. My suggestion is
always to forget about the dip switches for a while
when you get the pedal. Get to know the basic
functionality of it, and then if/when you want to
experiment with ramping or expression, it will
likely be easier.
Some of these concepts are much easier
to explain and demonstrate on video,
and I have many tutorials available on
my youtube channel at
www.youtube.com/c/ChaseBlissAudio.
I also love to hear from customers and answer
questions so feel free to write me anytime at
joel@chaseblissaudio.com.
Thank you so much for purchasing this
product and ENJOY!
NOO N E R
JUZZ
SWI N G S
I T A I N ’T EA S Y B EI N ’ G R EA S Y
S T I T CH ES
SPECTRE
INSTRUCTIONS
S EA S I C K L E S L I E
STE PPIN’ THROUGH
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All presets created by Mason Stoops.
Hear them at soundcloud.com/chaseblissaudio
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1)
This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2)
this device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.